According to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 200,000 Americans call 911 to receive immediate medical attention for bathroom-related injuries. Not only this but more than half of that number consists of seniors. Yes, the number is that high. If you have seniors in your home and want to make sure that they don’t face any severe bathroom injuries, this article is just the right thing you need.
You should know that as you enter your senior years, the body starts losing its charm. This means that you start experiencing mobility and balance issues. In fact, every 19 minutes, an elderly person is dying due to a fall. And many of such unfortunate accidents take place in the bathrooms. The reasons could be slippery washrooms, uncomfortable toilet seats, and no grab bars.
So, if you don’t want your senior relatives to experience any personal injuries, you need to eliminate potential hazards from their bathrooms as soon as possible. Here are some bathroom remodeling tips that can minimize the risk of personal injuries or even death. You’ll be surprised to know that even slight modifications in the bathroom can make it a safe sanctuary not only for seniors but also for other family members.
- Control water temperature
You might have heard about the fact that children and seniors have a lot in common. One of which is having sensitive skin which might get severely affected by scalding water. Immediate contact with hot water will also catch them off guard, due to which they might end up hurting themselves. That’s precisely why you need to control the water temperature.
Also, make sure you install the water heaters in the bathroom that allow you to control the temperature. You can even consider connecting the water heaters with the thermostat so that you can set the ideal temperature easily.
- Check for leaky faucets
It is tough to prevent slips and falls when there’s water all around the bathroom floor. That’s why you need to keep the water where it belongs. For this, you need to check for leaky faucets and pipes in the shower and sink to prevent the risk of a slippery floor.
If the situation goes beyond your control, you can always consider contacting experienced plumbing professionals. They’ll help you repair or replace shower/sink fixtures and faucets. The experts from a lansing plumbing company opine that you must always put your bathroom in good hands. This means associating with licensed and insured professionals for better results will always be your best bid.
Not to mention the experts might also help replace your regular faucets with something that’s more friendly for those arthritic hands. Such faucets could come in handy to reduce their chances of losing balance. The professionals will also take care of the troublesome drain and the tree roots that might end up attacking your main sewer line and elevate the chances of slip on the bathroom floor. You wouldn’t want that. Right?
So, connect with the industry professionals who are well-versed with their job and know what’s best for the bathroom.
- Let them bathe with ease
Before installing a bathtub in the bathroom, you need to make sure that it is easier for your senior relatives to access. This means that they shouldn’t have to get on a pedestal to get into the bathtub. That increases the chances of falls. To minimize this, you can always add bathtub transfer benches that are exclusively designed for people who feel it difficult to step over the tub wall. These benches will allow an elderly person to shift and slide to get out of the bathing area.
As far as the walk-in shower is concerned, check for the threshold. It must be low enough for a senior to pass without any hassle. Also, it would be best if you get some grab bars or safety seats installed for them to take support when in need. Instead of the grab bar model with suction cups, make sure you choose the securely bolted ones to the wall. There’s no such thing as too many precautions. Right? And it would also be beneficial if you add all the bathing essentials within their reach so that they don’t have to struggle to get to them.
- Add traction with safety mats.
Not every time you can control the water spills in the bathroom. But you can always consider minimizing the risk of falls by using cushioned rubber mats in the bathing area. Place them in the shower and outside the bathtub, and you’ll be good to go. You can even consider swapping your regular bathroom flooring with smaller stones or ceramic tiles to gain more traction in the bathroom.
It would also be best if you cushion all the sharp edges in the bathroom. From sinks and cabinets to shelves and door handles, make sure you focus on every sharp edge that could end up harming someone. You can also use adhesive guards for better protection. Also, don’t forget to clean those mats or safety guards as they could end up with mold and mildew. Apart from making a surface slippery, they pose severe health risks too.
- Bright it up
It is a bit tough to stay safe when everything around you is dark, especially for seniors. This is because they might have trouble seeing things even in regular lighting. So, you can consider swapping those dim lights with LEDs so that your senior relatives don’t end up bruising themselves.
A well-lit bathroom will help your senior relatives see things clearly to not walk into something that can harm them. You can also go for night lights or any other lighting fixtures you find fit.
Final Words,
Seniors are already having a hard time dealing with their age and medication. Not to mention they are struggling to cope with their balance and mobility issues. And the last thing they need in their life is a messy and dangerous bathroom that might end up hurting them. So, use the safety measures mentioned above and prevent any unfortunate bathroom accidents.
111 Comments